Awards and Scholarships

The Academy of Model Aeronautics has been named as the 4th place award winner by the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation for a Pilot's Choice Award Grant. The AMA is one of eight charities that will receive funds for aviation-related pursuits. As the 4th place finisher, AMA will be granted $5,000. AMA’s education department will use the funds to develop a model aviation day camp at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, IN. The on-site camp curriculum will be further developed to share with AMA’s 2400 clubs throughout the country. The goal of the day camp will be to ignite imagination and learning through principles of flight. Everyone who attends will not only learn more about model aviation as a hobby, but will learn many principles of STEM-based education. AMA Associate Vice-President Michael Lee represented the AMA at the Flying Aviation Expo in Palm Springs, CA, where the live announcement naming the winners was made.  AMA was recognized for its educational pursuits and for its continued efforts to represent the model aviation community. “Awarding these aviation charities provides the opportunity to advance their individual cause and together expand awareness and appreciation for aviation," says Allan Schrader, President of Lightspeed Aviation. “Since its inception, the Pilots Choice voting and awards have introduced us all to dozens of worthy charities and amazing people that are making a significant impact around the world." The Lightspeed Aviation Foundation was established in 2010 out of the commitment and passion of the Lightspeed Aviation Corporation to serve the aviation community. Since introducing its first product at EAA AirVenture in 1996, Lightspeed Aviation has established a reputation for leading product innovation in aviation headsets with a number of "first to market" advances in comfort, quiet, clarity, and pilot-centric functionality. This has earned Lightspeed a loyal customer following among professional, commercial, and private pilots. Learn more about the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation.

The AMA Foundation would like to thank AMA Member Josh Price, who took part in the "Cold Water Challenge" to support the AMA Scholarship Program.

Josh's goal-call out ten people and donate ten dollars for each one of the ten people to accept to the AMA Foundation scholarship fund. If all ten people agree, that's $100 that will go towards next year's scholarship awards. Josh hopes those he mentioned will accept the challenge, and share it with ten of their friends.

Said Josh in a comment to the Academy, "Hopefully this catches on and exponentially increases with more and more people calling out their friends and fellow club members. Also I would like to add that pond water at Joe Nall is acceptable as well."

Are you up for the challenge?

 

Scholarship applications are due to the AMA education department by February 1, 2014. Applying for scholarships is a big job, but it’s certainly worth your time in the long run. If you are actively involved in model aviation, you should plan to apply for an AMA scholarship to help pay for college.  We’re looking for students who participate in our great hobby of aeromodeling… but that’s not the only thing. Candidates who win AMA scholarships usually share the following traits: a. They work hard in school and achieve good grades. b. They show leadership in school, work, or other community involvement. c. They are active participants in model aviation as pilots, builders, competitors, and club members. Here are some tips for making sure you know exactly what the AMA Scholarship Committee looks for in a winning candidate. 1. Plan early. If you’re not already an AMA member, become one as soon as you can, before the middle of your Freshman year. (The requirement is 36 months of continuous AMA membership prior to application.) AMA youth memberships are free, and they are automatically renewed until you turn 19. Make sure you take the required placement tests early enough to get your scores before February of your senior year. The committee uses your SAT, PSAT and/or ACT scores, along with GPA, to rank your academic achievements against the other applicants. If you do not have a test score, you can still apply, but your total academic score will suffer. 2. Keep track of your achievements and activities throughout high school. It’s tough to sit down in your senior year and try to remember all the things you’ve done through the years that scholarship committees appreciate. So, start now! Write down all the things you do that will show us that you are dedicated to your community and developing your leadership skills. We like reading about young people who participate in charitable events, Boy & Girl Scouts, church fund raisers, and other events that are important to the community. Did you serve as captain of your sports team or head of the student council? Write it down! It shows that you are motivated to succeed and help others along the way. 3. Tell us the details of your modeling experience! If you participate in club events as a competitor, volunteer, judge, promoter… we want to read about it. Have you served as a club officer or helped write the newsletter? Have you built your own models from kits, plans, or even your own design? That will make you stand out from applicants who fly the typical store-bought models. If you take the initiative to build and repair your own models, it shows that you are not content to be the average modeler- you appreciate learning new skills and probably hold yourself to a certain level of craftsmanship. The same applies for competitions. Keep track of the modeling events you participate in and the awards you win. Most importantly– Don’t pass up an opportunity to help others with modeling. Students who help others succeed in modeling are ranked higher than those who simply participate– so if you are a flight instructor, a Science Olympiad coach, or even if you help elementary school kids build Delta Darts, let us know. You are just the type of leader we’re looking for. And don’t forget– If you’re an active competitor in AMA or FAI sanctioned contests, you are also eligible for the Telford Scholarship, which is presented to the competitor with the best record. 4. How has model aviation affected YOU? My experience in modeling as a kid helped to shape my entire career as a full-scale pilot and writer. Model building even inspired me to build my own full-scale airplane– it’s really just like a balsa plane, only it’s made of aluminum. Obviously, not every kid will be as obsessed with aviation as I am… but if you’ve been influenced by what you’ve learned or who you’ve met as a modeler, we want to hear about it. Are you going to engineering school because you love designing and building model airplanes or rockets? Did someone you met in the club help you to see your true potential as a teacher, writer, mechanic or craftsman? Write it down! (And send them a thank you note!) Did modeling help you to discover something about yourself– a talent you didn’t know you had? That’s just one of the things we love about our hobby–it tends to bring out the best in us. Share it with us. The applicants who have the deepest appreciation for where modeling has taken them are more likely to keep modeling and pass it on to the next generation, and we appreciate that. 5. One last thing– PLEASE TYPE your application! Hand-scribbled notes do not give the sense of pride and precision that a good modeler and a good student should have. We look forward to hearing from you in your senior year… til then, keep track of your good work and keep your eyes in the sky! Katie Bosman is a lifelong modeler, commercial pilot, and former Charles H. Grant Scholarship winner. She enjoys building & flying R/C sailplanes and working on her Van’s RV-3 kitplane.

We are pleased to report the 2013 recipients of the Charles Hampson Grant, Cliff Telford, Toledo Weak Signals and Dorothy and Basil Cooper awards.  The number of applicants this year (23) increased as compared with previous years, and the competition for the top awards was, as usual, rigorous. 

The 2013 AMA Scholarship winners and their awards are as follows:

Alexander Evangelatos- – $5,000 Charles Hampton + $1,000 from the Weak Signals club = $6,000

• City/State: Westbury, New York
• Brown University: Mechanical Engineering
• Modeling Experience: Began flying, modifying building with his father at age 10. Scratch-builder, aerobatic pilot, competing in fun-fly event and flight instructor for local Boy Scouts at his club.  Built an Extra 300 from scratch and states that his experience with radio control airplanes over the years, led to his choice of engineering as a field of study and future profession.
• School Activities and Community Service: Class Salutatorian, Member and leadership roles in the National Honor Society as well as the English, Math, Science, Music, and Italian National Honor Societies.  President of school’s First Robotics club.  Organized tutorial services for local elementary school students.
• Work History: Private academic tutor, data entry technician and website designer for private companies since 10th grade.

Ricardo Mirandes- 4,500 Charles Hampton Grant $500 from the Weak Signals club = $5,000

• City/State: San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Notre Dame – Aerospace Engineering
• Modeling Experience: Soloed an Ugly Stick at age six.  With his father’s assistance, built a Top Flite 172 that he flew for many years in local pattern and fun-fly events, eventually leading to 6th place at age 14, at the Top Gun in the Pro Am Sport category.  Currently flying jets in airshows: States that flying jets…has sharpened my skills as an RC pilot and a future engineer.

• School and Community experience: Member, National Honor Society, high honors in all courses; 1st place in regional science fair; Syracuse University 6-week summer engineering program; Puerto Rico high school football league, captain 2010 to present; participant in two church-sponsored mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
• Work experience: baby-sitting and local carwash activities

Magdalina Moses – $4,500 Charles Hampton Grant + $500 from the Weak Signals club = $5,000

• City/State: Falls Church, Virginia
• Virginia Polytechnic – Aeronautical Engineering
• Modeling Experience: Qualified for the Junior Team for the FAI World Space Modeling Championships, every year from 2008 to present; qualified for the Junior Team in 2008 in gyrocopter models; is in the process of designing gyrocopter blades, based on blades used in more advanced indoor FF model propellers; enjoys indoor FF models as member NFFS; scratch-built a matched set of a radio-controlled C-47 and an FF CG-4a Waco glider to commemorate her grandfather’s service in “Operation Market Garden” in WWII.
• School and Community Activities:  National Honor Society, Math Honor Society; Program Manager for Team America Rocketry Challenge; Project Manager for NASA’s Student Launch Initiative for two years; volunteer assistant at local elementary school

Dianne Collard – $4,500 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Olathe, Kansas
• Kansas State University – Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
• Modeling Experience: “Father, mother, brother and I, have soloed and upgraded from trainer planes.”  Youngest officer (Secretary) in two clubs; pilot, builder (and repairer) of many models (electric and gas); participant in fun-fly competitions (touch and go’s, spot landings, mock dogfights).
• School and Community Activities: National Honor Society, National Physics Olympiad; leader member in First Robotics, local service club, Technology Students Association, soccer team (highest and most consistent scorer); ham radio operator; speaks three foreign languages (Korean, Japanese, Spanish)
• Work Experience: summer intern in mechanical drafting

Luke Grandland – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Oak Park, Minnesota
• Concordia College – Physics
• Modeling Experience: began flying at four as 3rd generation pilot, member if two AMA clubs, 3 D pilot of an E3D by Gary Wright.
• School and Community Activities; National Honor society, president; lettered in track and Math League; Central Minnesota Big Brother of the Year; Boy’s State delegate
• Work experience: website designer and maintenance for local web applications business

Aaron Greifzu – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Auborn, Illinois
• Bradley University – Civil Engineering
• Modeling experience: 13 year member of the AMA, began building at age 11, rubber-powered Stinson Voyager; E-Fest participant (Blade mCX, Parkzone Vapor); flies MS Boom with video camera; instructor for AMA grant to local club for radio-control flying at local community college.
• School and Community Activities: National Honor Society, treasurer; football, letter; won regional and competed in state championship World Youth Science and Engineering Challenge; Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, 4-H club member; volunteer for numerous church and community service activities
• Work Experience: employee and local sports shooting club as well as paid farm hand

Ryan Seymour – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant + the Telford Award $5,000 = $8,000

• City/State: Radnor, Ohio
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University – Accounting
• Modeling experience: began flying at age 6, scratch and kit builder of balsa hand-launched gliders; junior winner at regional and Nats contests in catapult-launched gliders and rubber-powered P-30s; designed and built ½ A control-line model; as Telford applicant and award winner, has competed in seven Nats and World Championships, achieving Senior Hi-Point Champ.
• Work experience: three years of owning and managing commercial and residential lawn-mowing business

John Flatt – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Portland, Tennessee
• Perdue University – Aeronautical Engineering
• Modeling experience:  Began flying at age 9 and became a modifier/builder of his first airplane that led construction and customizing numerous types and styles of electric-powered models, from kits to models he created and designed himself.  Attributes his chosen area of study to his experience in model-building and design.
• School and Community Activities: National Honor Society; member Math Team, Science Club, Aviation Club president; senior awards in science, drafting and chemistry.  Volunteer in a number of local service organizations.
• Work experience: Paid “helper” at local tool and die shop; cashier at local antique store; “server assistant” at local restaurant.

Paul Gentile – $2,500 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Jamesburg, New Jersey
• University of Utah – Computer science and engineering
• Modeling experience:  began flying nitro at age 10 but has concentrated mostly on electrics over the years.  Has flown in war-bird events with his father, and has earned Model Aviation Merit Badge in Boy Scouts. Has served as instructor pilot and builder in numerous scouting events.  Is a member of Fair Use Building and Research (FUBAR) where he met and has assisted Rutgers University engineering students in quadcopter design and construction.
• School and community activities: recipient, First Robotics, Presidential Achievement Award where he has served as lead programmer; Eagle Scout with numerous leadership roles; participant in High Adventure Sailing and Sea Base Out Island Adventure programs; more than 1000 hours of community service, including local hurricane “Sandy” relief efforts
• Work experience: graphic design intern for Monroe Township Public schools; paid instructor at local scout reservation; aquatics instructor and lifeguard.

Kelley Saylor – $2,500 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Huber Heights, Ohio
• Wright State University – Engineering and Computer Science
• Modeling experience: Began flying 5 years ago and quickly became interested in 3D helicopter events at the 2009 XFC in Muncie; taught himself to fly heli’s on a simulator and now builds and flies all of his own – listing more than 35 different models!  Currently a “field rep” for Compass models.
• School and Community Activities: ranked in top 7% of class of more than 400 students; community service in local Hospice RC flying event raised more than $2,500 for the event; will enlist in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation to help defer college costs – interested in unmanned air vehicle testing and design.
• Work experience; three years in local hobby shop in sales and repair

Jonathan Elie -$500 Dorothy and Basil Cooper Memorial Scholarship.

• City/State: Hopewell Junction, New York
• Currently Enrolled in Dutchess Community College – Aviation Science, Fire Science Program; plans to transfer to a 4-yeary SUNY school to major in Mechanical Engineering Technology and Aviation Science; plans to acquire an A & P mechanic’s certificate.
• Modeling experience: As an RC and full-scale pilot, he is active in 3 AMA clubs, a member of EAA, SSA, AOPA and a local full-scale aviation club. He began RC flying at age 13, is a scratch builder and repairer of RC and free-flight models.  He is a full-scale glider and powered aircraft pilot, currently working on instrument and commercial ratings in powered aircraft, and instructor ratings for powered and glider aircraft.
• School and Community Activities: As a home-schooled student, he notes that, “it’s difficult to say what qualifies as an extracurricular activity….” He enjoys a variety of recreational sports – skiing, snowboarding, photography and video production.  He has served as a coach and judge for Science Olympiad competitions.
• Work experience: Two years as a “line boy” and, most recently, a “mechanic’s assistant,” at a local airport.

The AMA would like to say congratulations to all of our winners. The deadline for the 2014 AMA Scholarships is February 1st. The 2014 application will be available in a few weeks.